The current economic climate calls for increased accountability, efficiency, effectiveness and transparency. In view of this, UN-HABITAT welcomes any constructive criticism.
Now under new leadership, the organization is more than ever committed to change: Dr. Joan Clos, the Executive Director of UN-HABITAT has already embarked on an internal review and rationalization process. In this context, UN-HABITAT appreciates the UK Multilateral Aid Review. Despite some concerns about the research methodology, the agency agrees with some of its conclusions.
However, UN-HABITAT is seriously concerned about some critical omissions. Indeed, the report is in danger of losing sight of the importance of urbanization as a transformational process: Cities are strategically important for sustainable development through wealth creation and poverty reduction.
Withdrawing the funding to UN-HABITAT of about 7 percent of the agency's core budget is in danger of sending a signal that well planned and managed cities do not matter.
UN-HABITAT is disappointed by this decision especially as only two years ago, the UK's own House of Commons International Development Committee Report on Urbanization and Poverty praised UN-HABITAT: "We commend the work of UN-HABITAT on human settlements and urban development across a wide range of contexts". This cross-party report called for an increase in contributions and was welcomed by DFID in a Government Response, at that time. Read more |
